Elevation of Serum Levels of Advanced Glycation End Products in Patients With Non-B or Non-C Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of non-B or non-C hepatocellular carcinoma (NBNC-HCC) has been increasing all over the world. Advanced glycation end products (AGE) play a role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver injury or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). METHODS: We examined here whether serum levels of AGE were elevated in NBNC-HCC patients compared with NASH subjects without HCC and investigated which anthropometric and clinical variables were independent determinants of AGE. RESULTS: Ninety NBNC-HCC, 56 NASH, and 27 control subjects underwent a complete history and physical examination, determination of blood chemistries, including AGE levels. Serum levels of AGE were significantly higher in NBNC-HCC patients compared with NASH and control subjects [9.1 ± 2.7, 5.2 ± 1.7, 3.5 ± 1.2 (U/ml), respectively, P < 0.05]. Univariate analysis showed that AGE levels were associated with male (P < 0.05), age (P < 0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.05), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) (P < 0.01), HDL-cholesterol (inversely, P < 0.01), fasting plasma glucose (P < 0.01), and HbA1c (P < 0.05). By the use of multiple stepwise regression analysis, age, GGT, and HDL-cholesterol (inversely) remained significant and were independently related to AGE levels (R(2) = 0.406). CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that AGE might be involved in the pathogenesis of NBNC-HCC, thereby being a biomarker that could discriminate NBNC-HCC from NASH.